Item of Apparel

ABSTRACT

An item of apparel includes an upper tubular member and a lower tubular member. A hinge pivotally connects the upper tubular member with the lower tubular member and enables relative rotation of the upper tubular member with respect to the lower tubular member about a pivot axis defined by the hinge.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/616,504 “Item of Apparel” filed Jan. 12, 2018 at Attorney Docket No. 1-2363-P-2, which priority application is incorporated by reference in this application as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Cohen U.S. Pat. No. 7,096,511 discloses a garment for warming the head and/or neck in cold weather. The garment is formed as a single loop of material. A user folds over the single loop to form at least two loops. “The method of applying the garment to the wearer, includes the steps of stretching and looping the garment in two encircling loops around the head of a user”, Cohen column 6, lines 41-43.

The Cohen garment is useful in warming the head and/or neck. Forming loops in a single large loop of material, however, can be difficult—particularly in windy weather or if the user's hands are cold. An item of apparel that provides a user the flexibility of a multi-loop garment but without requiring a user to form the multiple loops would be advantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed is an item of apparel for warming the neck and/or head that provides a user the flexibility of a multi-loop garment but without requiring the user to form the multiple loops.

The disclosed item of apparel includes upper and lower generally annular (round) tubular members sized to receive when worn the head and neck respectively of a user. The first tubular member receives the head and can form a headband that covers the ears of the user. A hinge joins the upper and lower tubular members to thereby form a one-piece unitary item of apparel. The hinge pivotally attaches the upper tubular member with the lower tubular member, the upper tubular member being able to pivot towards or away from the lower tubular member.

The upper and lower tubular members may each be formed from woven or knit materials used for winter apparel, such as wool, wool and synthetic blends, fleece, spandex, neoprene, cotton, felt, yarn, and the like. The material may be able to elastically stretch, enabling the tubular members to radially enlarge and contract for a comfortable snug fit during use.

The hinge in embodiments may be permanently attached to the upper and lower tubular members by permanent fastening techniques such as hand sewing or machine stitching, use of adhesives, fusion, or the like. The hinge in yet other embodiments may detachably attach the upper and lower tubular members by detachable fastening techniques such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, hooks, or the like.

The hinge in embodiments may be attached to the outer cylindrical walls of the upper and lower tubular members. The hinge in other embodiments may be located on the inner cylindrical walls of the upper and lower tubular members. The hinge in yet other embodiments may be located within or substantially entirely within the materials forming the upper and lower tubular members.

The first and second tubular members extend in a circumferential direction to surround the respective member openings. The hinge extends only a relatively short distance in the circumferential direction. The hinge enables the upper and lower tubular members to pivot towards or away from each other about a pivot axis or axis of rotation of the hinge.

The upper tubular member may in embodiments be open at both ends of the member to enable the upper tubular member to function as a headband. The upper tubular member may in other embodiments be closed at an upper end away from the lower tubular member to form a hat or cap rather than a headband. The portion closing the annular member may in embodiments be homogenous and integral with the upper tubular member or may be formed from a separate piece of material that is later permanently or detachably attached to the upper tubular member.

The disclosed item of apparel may include in embodiments features found on conventional headbands and hats, including drawstrings, ear flaps, ornamentation, and the like.

In possible embodiments one or both of the upper and lower tubular members may be formed by an elongate length of material whose respective end portions are removably fastened together (by buttons, hook and loop fasteners, or the like) to form the tubular member. This enables the ends of the loop of one or both of the tubular members to be unfastened to open the loop and stop the loop from entirely surrounding the neck or head (which may be convenient for example when the user temporarily entered a heated room from a cold outside environment).

In other possible embodiments. a tubular member may be formed from a single piece of fabric cut to the appropriate shape and length. The piece of fabric may be rectangular in shape, or in embodiments may be irregularly shaped to define flaps and the like that may be folded into the tubular member when not in use. The upper and lower tubular members do not necessarily have to be made from the same material, and do not necessarily have to be identically shaped.

While one or more embodiments have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it is understood that this is capable of modification and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the precise details set forth but includes modifications obvious to a person of ordinary skill in possession of this disclosure, including (but not limited to) changes in material selection, size, operating ranges (temperature, volume, displacement, stroke length, concentration, and the like), environment of use, and known equivalents of features disclosed in the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the disclosed item of apparel.

FIG. 2 is an end view taken along lines 2-2 of the item of apparel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view taken along lines 3-3 of the item of apparel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1 but illustrates the upper loop pivoted away from the lower loop.

FIG. 5 illustrates the item of apparel shown in FIG. 1 as worn by a user, the lower and upper loops together and covering the neck and lower face of the user.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 but with the upper loop pivoted away from the lower loop to cover the ears of the user.

FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 of a second embodiment item of apparel.

FIG. 9 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 of a third embodiment item of apparel.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a material preform for manufacturing the item of apparel shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 is a side view similar to FIG. 4 of a fourth embodiment item of apparel.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a hinge detachably joining the upper and lower loops shown in FIG. 1, the hinge formed from hook and loop fasteners.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a hinge detachably joining the upper and lower loops shown in FIG. 1, the hinge having button fasteners.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a fifth embodiment item of apparel having neck and ear flaps folded inside of the lower and upper loops respectively.

FIG. 14 illustrates the item of apparel shown in FIG. 13 as worn by a user, the neck and ear flaps folded outwardly to extend coverage of the clothing over the user's face and ears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment item of apparel 10 in accordance with the disclosure.

The item of apparel 10 includes an upper tubular member 12 with a lower side 13 and a like lower tubular member 14 having an upper side 15. The illustrated tubular members are each formed from a wool blend material cut into an elongate rectangle, the opposite longitudinal ends of the rectangle being permanently fastened to each other by thread or adhesive to form the tubular member.

A hinge 16 pivotally attaches the upper and lower tubular members 12, 14 together. The hinge enables pivotal movement of the upper and lower tubular members towards and away from each other about a pivot axis or axis of rotation 18 defined by the hinge. The illustrated hinge 16 is permanently fastened to the outside of the tubular members and is formed by stitching or adhering a piece of fabric to the tubular members. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge extends a relatively short distance in the circumferential direction so that flexibility of the hinge is maximized.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate the hinge 16 in a closed position wherein the upper and lower tubular members 12, 14 away from the hinge 16 are adjacent to one another along a common longitudinal axis 17. The upper and lower tubular members are each substantially concentric with the common central axis 17, and each of the upper and lower tubular members include tubular portions that are adjacent with one another along the longitudinal axis without overlap, each tubular portion surrounding the longitudinal axis. The hollow portions of the tubular members cooperatively define a through hole extending through the item 10.

When the hinge 16 is in the closed position the upper tubular member overlays the lower tubular member with the lower side 13 and the upper side 15 facing one another. The upper and lower tubular members are not connected to one another and do not overlay one another away from the hinge.

The hinge permits the upper tubular member to pivot relative to the lower tubular member about 270 degrees in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 about the pivot axis wherein the upper and lower tubular members would be side-by-side.

FIG. 4 illustrates the item of apparel 10 after the upper tubular member 12 has pivoted away from the lower tubular member by about 45 degrees in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in the figure.

In use, a user may place the item of apparel in an initial state shown in FIG. 1, the hinge closed and the tubular members concentric and longitudinally adjacent with one another The user then places the lower tubular member 14 on the head, and slides the item of apparel down over the head through the through-hole cooperatively defined by the tubular members, and to the neck and against the user's shoulders. The elasticity and the inherent flexibility of the materials forming the upper and inherent flexibility of the tubular members enable the item of apparel to slide smoothly and easily over the head and neck.

FIG. 5 illustrates the item of apparel 10 around the neck of a user 20. The illustrated item of apparel 10 is sized so that when the hinge 16 is in the closed position the upper tubular member 12 covers the lower portion of the user's face as shown in the figure when the lower tubular member 14 is positioned surrounding the neck. The upper tubular member 12 can stretch to comfortably fit over and be retained against the chin and lower face.

The user 20 can adjust the position of the upper tubular member 12 relative to the lower tubular member 14 as desired for use. In FIG. 6 the user has pivoted the upper moved the upper tubular member to place the upper tubular member over the user's ears. The upper tubular member 12 functions as an adjustable headband that can be easily positioned by the user while maintaining the lower tubular member around the neck as a neck warmer.

If desired, the user 20 can also move the lower tubular member from the neck to cover the face. The item of apparel 10 thereby enables the user to have two adjustable headbands over the face.

As mentioned above, the upper and lower tubular members 12, 14 do not have to be identically sized.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment item of apparel 110 in which the outer perimeter of the upper tubular member 12 is less than the outer perimeter of the lower tubular member 14. The width of the upper tubular member along the tube longitudinal axis is less than the corresponding width of the lower tubular member.

In addition, in FIG. 7 the hinge 16 is essentially formed inside of or between the materials forming the walls of the tubular members. For example, facing portions of the lower and upper sides of the upper tubular member 12 and the lower tubular member 14 may be glued or stitched together to form the hinge 16.

As another example of the hinge being between the walls of the tubular members, FIG. 8 illustrates an elongate, rectangular material preform 22 for forming an item of apparel 110. Slits 24, 26 extend inwardly from opposite sides of the preform 22 and stop short of the center of the preform, defining a web 27. The material 28 on one side of the web will form a tubular portion of the upper tubular member. The material 30 on the other side of the web will form a tubular portion of the lower tubular member. The web will form the hinge.

FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment item of apparel 120 in which the outer perimeter of the upper tubular member 12 is greater than the outer perimeter of the lower tubular member 14. The height of the upper tubular member along the tube longitudinal axis is greater than the corresponding height of the lower tubular member. In addition, the hinge 16 is attached to the inside walls of the tubular members 12, 14. In addition, the hinge 16 is essentially formed inside the materials forming the walls of the tubular members by stitching overlapping axial extensions of the tubular members together. A drawstring 32 is also located in the lower tubular member.

The upper side of the upper tubular member 12 may be closed in embodiments to thereby define a hat or cap 34 as seen in FIG. 10. In this embodiment the lower tubular member 14 is releasably held closed by a button 35 that holds together overlapping portions of the lower tubular member.

The hinge 16 may be designed to detachably attach the upper and lower tubular members 12, 14 to one another.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the hinge 16 utilizing hook-and-loop fasteners. Loop fastener portions 36 are attached to the tubular members 12, 14, and an overlaying detachable hook portion 38 overlays and engages the loop fasteners when attaching the tubular members together.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the hinge 16 utilizing buttons 40 that are attached to the tubular members 12, 14 and are received through button holes in a flexible attachment member 42.

The tubular members 12, 14 may in embodiments each include flaps or other extendable members that may be folded into the tubular member or folded along the outside of the tubular member when not in use.

In FIG. 13, the edge of the material forming the lower side of the upper tubular member 12 has an intermediate convex bulge or widening that defines a semi-elliptic flap 44. The elliptical flap may be folded into the upper tubular member, the fold line defining a uniform lower side 13

The edge of the material forming the upper edge of the lower tubular member 14 extends away from the opposite edge to form a partially conical flap 46. The flap 46 may be folded into the lower tubular member, the fold line defining a uniform upper side 15.

In FIG. 14, the elliptical flap 44 is shown unfolded and provide additional coverage of the user's ears, The partially conical flap 46 is shown unfolded and provides additional coverage of the user's lower face and chin.

The upper tubular member 12 of the illustrated item of apparel 10 may have a circumference of between about sixteen inches and twenty-eight inches, with a twenty-two inch circumference being a preferred adult size, and a width of between about two inches and six inches, with a four inch width being preferred for an adult-sized garment. The lower tubular member 14 of the illustrated item of apparel 10 may have a circumference of between about fifteen inches and twenty-six inches, with a twenty-two inch circumference being preferred for an adult size, and a width of about two inches and six inches, a three inch width being preferred for an adult size. The hinge 16 of the illustrated item of apparel 10 spans in the circumferential direction between about 2 inches and 8 inches, a five inch span being preferred for an adult size. The dimensions recited above are intended to be nonlimiting and may vary in other embodiments depending on the material being used, the intended user market (child sizes of course would be smaller than adult sizes), the rate of elasticity of the material, and other factors.

While one or more embodiments are disclosed and described, it is understood that this is capable of modification and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the precise details set forth but includes modifications obvious to a person of ordinary skill in possession of this disclosure, including (but not limited to) changes in material selection, fastening structures, size and shape, and the like), environment of use, and also such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the disclosure and following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An item of apparel comprising: an upper tubular member, a lower tubular member, and a hinge pivotally connecting the upper tubular member and the lower tubular member, the hinge defining a pivot axis, each of the upper and lower tubular members having a tubular portion; the upper tubular member being pivotally movable with respect to the lower tubular member about the pivot axis, the upper tubular member being pivotal away from the lower tubular member from a first position wherein the hinge is in a closed position to a second position; and when the hinge is in the closed position the upper and lower tubular members surround a common longitudinal axis and are spaced adjacent to one another along the longitudinal axis.
 2. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are adjacent to one another along the longitudinal axis without overlap when the hinge is in the closed position.
 3. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second tubular members comprise an outer tubular surface and in inner tubular surface, the hinge being disposed on the outer tubular surfaces of the first and second tubular members.
 4. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second tubular members comprise an outer tubular surface and in inner tubular surface, the hinge being disposed on the inner tubular surfaces of the first and second tubular members.
 5. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members comprise an inner tubular wall and an outer tubular wall, and the hinge is disposed inside of or between the said walls of the tubular members.
 6. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members comprise a respective tubular portion, the tubular portions and the hinge each being respective portions of a single piece of material.
 7. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein one or both of the upper and lower tubular members includes overlapping portions releasably fastened together by a fastener.
 8. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein the hinge releasably connects the upper and lower tubular members.
 9. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein the upper tubular member has a closed end.
 10. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein the upper tubular member comprises an ear flap formed as a convex bulge or widening of the upper tubular member.
 11. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein the upper tubular member has an interior tubular wall and the ear flap is foldable to be selectively inside of the interior tubular wall.
 12. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower tubular members have an outer circumference, the outer circumferences of the upper and lower tubular members being equal to one another.
 13. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members has a circumference of between about sixteen inches and twenty-eight inches.
 14. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein each of the upper and lower tubular members extends along a respective axis, each of the upper and lower tubular members extending between about two inches and six inches along the respective axis.
 15. The item of apparel of claim 1 comprising a draw string at least partially disposed within the lower tubular member.
 16. The item of apparel of claim 1 wherein the lower tubular member comprises a partially conical flap foldable into and out of the lower tubular member. 